Ford Focus RS (MK3)

Quite frankly – we are delighted with the new RS! Of course, its all-wheel-drive system, however intelligent and well-paired with turbocharged engine, hardly discovers America. The point is elsewhere: it’s been long since any manufacturer came up with such a competent, all-round and all-weather package of a driver’s car dedicated to fast driving. The wizardry of the Dynamic Torque Vectoring, combined with almost competition-grade Öhlins suspension, sums up in the abilities we are to fully explore yet, either on road or racetrack. As superlative as the Focus RS was in its previous guises, it’s s finally grown up now to stand on par with the best rally icons – and keep pace with them as it gets really fast and tricky under the wheels. Ours, equipped with an additional ATB Quaife limited-slip diff, is the GT-R’s younger brother in terms of traction.